The eternal mystery of who exactly buys Celine Dion records - 175m and counting - may have been solved. And the answer could surprise you. It turns out that some of the most credible names in music are huge fans of the earnest Canadian crooner. Tim "Timbaland" Mosley - producer for Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot - is working on her new album, along with Ne-Yo, songwriter for Beyoncé and Britney.

Amazingly, it may not just be cold, hard cash that motivates them. Timbaland has been attending Dion's $95m Las Vegas show on a regular basis. Prince has been at least three times. Timberlake took a break from being pop's Mr Cool to come down, and Britney, Ice T and Alice Cooper have been spotted among the 4,100-strong audience (although Cooper, apparently, just said he wanted to see what a $95m concert looked like).

Even Rick Rubin, another of the world's most revered producers, has been to the specially built "Roman Coliseum" at Caesars Palace to see 39-year-old Dion belt out My Heart Will Go On, The Power of Love and Beauty and the Beast.

This is the man who founded Def Jam Records, revived Johnny Cash's career and still found time to produce Jay-Z's 99 Problems and the last three albums by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So what do they see in a woman who, according to those who have seen the show, feigns surprise at seeing the audience every time she comes on stage, and dedicates every performance to "the children"?

"Celine has such a beautiful, mesmerising voice," Timbaland told Elle magazine. "She is so talented. I think we could create something that is a classic like she already is."

Dion may have other ideas: "It must not be too edgy," she said in a recent interview. "It must be comforting. So I'm not going to change."

If that doesn't mesh with Timbaland's skittish, rhythmic style, perhaps Robson and Jerome would welcome his input on a comeback.